Toy railway



Oct. 26, 1937.

M. R. HALL TOY RAILWAY Filed March 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I 1 u I 5076 62 765 3 254- Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

inver ion relates to toy railways.

The inven on intended for specific application toy electric railways,and especially where the tracks may be arranged to provide a crossover,and on which are operated simultaneously more than one train. As resultof such operation, two trains may simultaneously arrive at a meetingpoint, such, for instance, as crossover. Unless properly controlled, onetrain 10 be moving across the crossover when anther train will bepropelled onto that cross v r Possible damage from the ensuing crash,

as well as disruption of operation, would follow.

t is an object of the invention to control 15. automatically themovement of such trains for preventing such interference between twotrains upon the same section of track at the same time, as, forinstance, to prevent one train from operating upon a crossover when uponthat crossover there is present another train. In the case of acrossover or similar track section, it is insulated from the othersections of track comprising the railroad. Conductors leading away fromthe crossover are connected to a. proper central point. Such conductorsmay take part in effecting control of the power input for each of theseveral track elements of that crossover. Thus, when one train entersupon a certain track section of the crossover, automatically the othersection or sections are deenergized. Such a train may then, in assuredsafety, continue onto, and then travel beyond, the crossover, no othertrain being capable of moving, under its own power, onto the crossoverat that time.

Apparatus embodying certain details of the invention has been designedfor operation upon that type of toy railroad in which remotelycontrolled locomotives are intended to be operated. In certain of suchtypes, cutting off power for a particular locomotive causes a relay tore-set a switch in that locomotive so that thereafter, when power isagain supplied to the locomotive, it will operate in a direction thereverse of that which it followed in the first instance. Where it ispreferred that such locomotive should move progressively in the samedirection, as in the case of pcr'ic t simulation of operation at arailroad crossover, it is an object of the invention so to operate meansin conjunction with such crossover that, even with such remotelycontrolled apparatus, the locomotive will be caused to continue in thesame, rather than in a reverse, direction.

It is an object of the invention to provide, for

v assembly with toy railroads of the character indicated, a crossoverwhich, within itself, constitutes a unitary structure, capable, merelyby a simple act of assembly with the ordinary trackage of such system,to function, and requiring no technical ability on the part of the userfor 5 such assembly or its subsequent operation. For such purpose, suchcrossover may include, in itself, all mechanism and electrical elementsrequisite for properly operating trains at the crossover. Such anapparatus may include, for in- 10 stance, a signal-tower, simulating aproperly controlled railroad. In such case, the signal-tower may carrycertain signalling devices, cooperating with the crossover controls,which will indicate properly whether the tracks are clear, or which 15of the tracks are not passable, at a particular point in the operationof the apparatus. Such tower may function as a casing for the differentmechanism and elements of the control apparatus. 20

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter be set forth, or willbe apparent from the description and the drawings, in which isillustrated an embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particularapplication of such construction, or to any specific manner of use, orto any of various details there- 30 of, herein shown and described, asthe same may be modified in various particulars or be applied in manyvaried relations without departing from the spirit and scope of theclaimed invention, the practical embodiment herein illustrated and 3rdescribed merely being one of various forms and modifications in whichthe invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout, 40 and in which is disclosed such embodiment:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention,specifically a unitary crossover and signal tower;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, trans- 5 versely through thesignal tower, and here showing only the base of the tower, certain ofthe parts being in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, appearing as ifthe casing were reso moved from the base, and parts appearing insection;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, as itappears from the right side thereof; and

V 22 and 2d are aligned, respectively, with rails 26 V soiorth, willnot,

Fig. 5 is a wiringdiagram for the apparatus. In the apparatus on thedrawings, the invention has been shown embodied in the form of acrossover it intended for association with a trackage system E2, thelatter being capable of taking any form desired, according to the whimof the'user. In such a. system, two wheel-carrying rails M and it areprovided together with a third rail i8, from which, by means of aroller,

the locomotive (not shown) takes its power, to be returned to a suitableground through either or both of rails i l and Hi. The crossover hereshown is in the form of a unit, mounted upon a base plate 28 ofinsulating material. Upon such plate may be mounted. wheel-carryingrails 22 and 2 3, 2 5 and 28, 3t and 32, Stand 35. Rails and 28, but arebroken at the points at which otherwise they would intersect with rails38 and 32, and rails 3 and 3%. Rails 8!] and32 likewise are'aligned withrails 3e and 36, but are bro ken in the same manner as the other rails.Rail sections 53 3, and 3 3 may, if desired, be of insulating materialso that no current may pass from them to associatedrails or railsections. However, the sections and the rails are positioned in closeenough association so that the wheels of a train, as they pass from railto section, and in any way be in danger of derailment.

In'association with rails 22, and so forth, are.

' other section, by means of extending pins 54,

which may be of insulating material for the purposes of insulating thecrossover from the rest of the system. The insulation between thecrossover and the other rail sections may, if desired, be constituted inany other preferred manner.

Either as an integral part of plate 26, or, if desired, as a separateunit, there may be provided a signal-tower 56, including a housing 58,base 6% of which'may be of insulating material. In spaced apartrelationship upon such base, by means of a bracket 62, are supported apair of solenoids 5d and 55. The front ends of these solenoids may beprovided with supporting guideway plates S8 and iii, through which pass,respectively, cores l2 and M, for the solenoids. Springs 18 arepositioned upon each core and are engaged between the respectiveguideway plate and an enlarged head 'lii upon the core, tending normallyto propel the core out of the solenoid. The head may be of insulatingmaterial, here shown as taking the form of a depending footsimilarly'supported and constructed, for cooperation with the other coreld'has prongs 38, 5%, and H32, and a terminal post Terminal posts 94 andHM may be carried loyrespective brackets 88, and may take the form ofset-screws E83, permitting adjustment to vary the tensionalrelationships of the several prongs, and being capable of being lockedin that position.

Considering the circuit of the apparatus, power is derived from anyusual source, such as the transformer generally utilized in connectionwith such toy railways. indicated by two leads Hi8 and lit. When notrain is carried by the crossover, both cores will have been propelledagainst their respective jacks, closing the prongs together, as will befurther discussed. also, third rail sections 36, 48, 50, and 52 all willbe energized. Also, the circuits for the solenoids will be broken aswill appear further.

However, lead E28 is connected to both prongs I and I02, which areseparated by a flexible insulating member H2. Prong Hi2, by the pressureof the core, is in contact with terminal post 184, which, by a lead lid,is connected to terminal post 9 Against terminal post G L'by thepressure of its core, is brought prong 92, which, through a lead H5, isconnected to signal-light H8. From this light the circuit may becompleted through a proper ground, as, for instance, by lead Mil.Signal-light 558 may be the top light of tower 56, which may extend fromhousing '58 to be provided with suitable directive openings. Each ofthe' signal-lights may have openings such as openings i238; in the caseof si nal-light H8, these openings are directed four directions. Theopenings may have coloring screens; in the case of light M8, screens maybe made efiective to direct green light in all directions, thus toindicate all tracks to be clear. The shades l 22 for the signal lightare here made to simulate the shades in customary railway practice, andmay be made in any desired man- 'ner. V I 7 Now, considering that atrain has moved onto the crossover wheel-carrying rails 22 and 24, acircuit willnow'be completed in the following ma.nner.' From lead H38,power will pass through a lead I25 to prong 95. Since prong 9G, by theaction of its core spring, is in contact with prong 84, current is,therefore, transmitted through a lead I25, to the winding of solenoid66. Then, by a lead l28, connected to signal-light ltd, it is conductedto rail 22, across axle 32 bridging the rails, to rail 24, then throughlead i3 1 to lead I I0, and the ground.

When this circuit is completed, core 74 of solenoid 6b is retracted,breaking the electric connection between a contact E36 carried by head85 of core 14 and a pivoted arm itt, breaking the circuit of third rail55, normally traced from lead I08, through lead M0, contact ltd, armI38, lead M2, rail the locomotive, andeither of the wheel-carrying railsto the ground. Now, if any train should enter the section of thecrossover defined by rails 30 and 32, it would be unable to proceedfurther. Signal-light E36 in the tower, through suitably arrangedopenings Hi l and I46, directs signals along the tracks, openings I54directing a green light along the track including rails 22 and 24, andopenings M6, a red light along the track defined by rails 3i and 32. Atthe same time, since core "Ed has been retracted, the electricalconnection between prong H32 and terminal post I04 will be broken, thusextinguish Here such power source is,

ing signal-light I I8. This condition will continue until the last truckof the train has passed over rails 22 and 24, whereupon solenoid 66 willbe deenergized, its spring will drive its core out of the solenoid, andcontact will be established between contact I36 and arm I38, prongs 98and I0, and prong I02, and terminal post I04.

On the instant of such energization, the circuit is completed from leadI08, as above described, to third rail 50. Immediately the locomotivebecomes energized, and its motor operates. In the case of locomotiveshaving reversing mechanism caused to operate by any such shut-down, theentrance of the locomotive into the deenergized area will have causedthe reversing mechanism to operate. However, by reason of its presencein that deenergized area, such reversed operation will not ensue, untilcontact I36 and arm I38 engage. Then, for an instant, the reversed motorwill be energized. But the inertia impact between arm I38 and its headI8 is sufiicient to cause that arm to fly away from head, thus againbreaking the circuit connection between the contact and the arm, andcausing another reversal of the reversing mechanism.

The arm is formed in the manner of a bellcrank, having a bearing portionI48 mounted upon a spindle I50 which in turn is carried in suitablebearing brackets I52. Extending from each bearing is an arm I54,carrying a weight I56 at its end. Thus, when the inertia impact hascaused arm I38 to leave contact I36, sufficient inertia will be impartedto weight I56 so that it will continue its rise. However, the apparatusis balanced in a manner such that the inertia will not be sufiicient tothrow the weight completely around, or suitable stops may be arranged toprevent any such result. When the weight has reached the limit of itsmovement, it will return arm I38 into contact with contact I36, thusagain reconstituting the circuit, and almost instantaneously causing thelocomotive to move forwardly. Brackets 88 may be provided with seats I58to act as stops and rests for Weights I56 when the cores are retractedby their respective solenoids.

When, on the other hand, a train proceeds into the area defined by rails30 and 32, before one arrives in the area defined by rails 22 and 24, acircuit is completed from lead I08, through prongs I00 and 98, lead I60,solenoid 64, lead I62, signal-light I64, lead I66, rail 30, the axle ofthe truck, rail 32, to lead H0, or a suitable ground. Now core I2 isretracted, breaking the circuit between post 94 and prong 92, and thusextinguishing signal-light II 0, whereas signallight I30 has beenextinguished at the time the circuit of solenoid 66 was broken. Also,the circuit between arm I68 and contact I'I0 associated with core I2 isbroken, deenergizing third rail 46.

Signal-light I64 operates r'eversely of signal light I30, indicating,through its openings I12 and I14, the track to be clear along rails 30and 32, but in danger along rails 22 and 24. In the H same manner, thetrain then operates across the crossing from rails 30 and 32 until thelast car has passed, when the circuit of solenoid 64 is broken, and theapparatus permitted to return to its normal position in whichsignal-light II 8 will be made operative, and the other twoextinguished. The trains will have sufficient momentum, in passing fromthe different sections defined by rails 22 and 24, and by rails 30 and32, to pass over the unenergized sections 38, 40, 42, and 44.

Many other changes could be eifected in the particular apparatusdesigned, and in the methods of operation and use set forth, and inspecific details thereof, without substantially departing from theinvention intended to be defined in the claims, the specific descriptionherein being of an illustrative operative embodiment capable of carryingout the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of railsdefining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect so thattrains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with movementalong another intersecting pair of rails, said train including anelectric locomotive of the remote-control reversible type, and means atthe intersection for automatically deenergizing certain of the trains toprevent movement of trains along more than one of the pairs of rails atthe tersection at any one time, the deenergizing ans, on completion ofmovement of a train over the intersection, along one pair of rails,energizing a train on another pair of rails for movement over theintersection, the last energization being eirected by twice in rapidsuccession closing the electric circuit for the train to be energized.

2. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of railsdefining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, therails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passingalong one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains alongother rails of the crossover; and means made effective by the presenceof a train on one of the pairs of rails for automatically deenergizingcertain of the rails of the crossover to prevent movement of trainsalong more than one of the pairs of rails at the crossover at any onetime, the means including a pair of solenoids, each of which has amovable core, means normally to project the cores from the solenoids,the solenoids acting to withdraw the cores, a switch associated witheach core and normally closed by the projection of the core, and asignal-light placed in circuit by the projection of both cores.

3. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of railsdefining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, therails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passingalong one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains alongother rails of the crossover, each pair of rails on the crossover havingan individual energizing circuit for trains passing over such pair ofrails; and means to deenergize the circuits of all other rails when atrain is moving along one of the pairs of rails, the means including asolenoid associated with each of the energizing circuits, each solenoidhaving a core, means normally to project the core from the solenoid, thesolenoid acting to withdraw the core, a switch associated with each coreand adapted to be closed when the core is projected, a signal-light toindicate the projection of all cores, a contact carried by each core,and a pivoted arm for making electrical connection with the contact, armand contact forming a part of an energizing circuit other than that withwhich the solenoid is associated.

4. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of railsdefining a track system, the rails being disposed to intersect, therails at the intersection forming a crossover so that trains passingalong one pair of rails will interfere with passage of trains alongother rails of the crossover, each pair of rails on the crossover havingan individual energizing circuit for trains passing over such pair ofrails, and means to deenergize all other circuits when a train is movingalong one of the pairs of rails at the crossover to prevent movement oftrains along more than one of the pairs of rails at the crossover at anyone time, the deenergizing means including a pair of monitor circuits,the spaced apart rails of a pair constituting a break in one of themonitor circuits, so that the passage of a train will complete theparticular'monitor circuit associated with a particular pair of rails,and means associated with each monitor circuit for breaking theenergizing circuit of other rails.

5. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of railsdefining a track system, the

, rails being disposed to intersect, the rails at the intersectionforming a crossover so that trains passing along pairs of rails willinterfere with passage of trains along other rails of the crossover,each pair of rails on the crossover having an individual energizingcircuit for trains passing over such pair of rails, and means todeenergize all other circuits when a train is moving along one of thepairs of rails at the crossover to prevent movement of trains along morethan one of the pairs of rails at the crossover at any one time, thedeenergizing means including a pair of monitor circuits, the spacedapart rails of a pair constituting a break in one of the monitorcircuits, so that the passage of a train will complete the particularmonitor circuit associated with a particular pair of rails, meansassociated with each monitor circuit for breaking the energizing circuitof other rails, and means in each monitor circuit for signalling theavailability of the sections of the track system for the passage of atrain. 7

6. In a toy electric railroad system, including an electric locomotiveof the remote-control reversible type, comprising a plurality of railsdefining'a track system, the rails being disposed to form a junction,and deenergizing means automatically efiective upon the advent of onetrain upon'the junction to prevent movement of trains contact arm formaking electrical connection "with the contact, the arm being weightedso that,

on propulsion of the core by the projecting means, the arm will makeconnection with the contact,

'be thrown clear of the contact, and then fall intoelectrical'connection with the contact, each arm and contact formingpart of energizing means for movement of a train along one pair ofrails.

7. In a toy electric railroad system, comprising a plurality of railsdefining sections of a continuous track system, the rails being disposedto intersect, the rails at the intersection forming a crossover so thatthe trains passing along one pair of rails will interfere with passageof trains along other rails of said crossover, and deenergizing meansautomatically made effective upon the advent of a train upon a sectionto prevent movement of more than one train onto the same track sectionat any one time, said means comprising solenoids, each associated with asection, each; of the solenoids having a movable core, means normallyprojecting'the core from the, solenoid, the a solenoid acting towithdraw the core, a switch,

associated with each core and closed when the core is projected, asignal-light energized by the projection of all the cores, andindividual signallights energized on the retraction of the individualcores.

MELVIN R. HALL.

